A. B. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury - Development Work

Development Work

Mohiuddin has been credited for extensive infrastructure-development work and a generally efficient local administration in Chittagong. During his sixteen years and six month's tenure, the political party he was affiliated to, Bangladesh Awami League, was in charge of Central Government in Dhaka for only six years. Mohiuddin was also in prison without trial for two years whilst serving as a Mayor. Despite these limitations his tenure was marked by extensive development works. Mohiuddin boosted education and health sector of the city by improving the quality of service and reducing the cost of service for lower income and middle class city dwellers. Secondary schools for girls were built in almost every local ward and new post secondary (two- and four-year education) colleges were built throughout the city. Except Chittagong, no other city authority in Bangladesh offers the extensive educational services provided by the Chittagong City Corporation, which were almost entirely started following Mohiuddin's tenure.

Public Health service also received a major boost during Mohiuddin's time in office. Overall 22 new primary health care centres and dispensaries were established throughout the city. These centres provided basic health care services – consultation with a qualified doctors and distribution of generic drugs at a discounted prescription cost. This had enabled the lower- and lower- middle-classes to receive basic health care before seeing a senior physician at a government or private hospital. The primary health care projects in the city are praised by donor agencies and public-health professionals. During Mohiuddin's term he had also established five maternity clinics with basic childbirth facilities, staffed with qualified doctors, midwives, and nurses. Under Mohiuddin the Chittagong city authority has also invested heavily to build a 100-bed specialised maternity hospital, Mamon Maternity Hospital. The hospital has specialised neonatal care and advanced gynaecological-surgery facilities. The hospital is overseen by two consultant gynaecologists and a team of doctors.

Mohiuddin was the first mayor in Bangladesh to establish a private university – Premier University, Chittagong, sponsored by the Chittagong City Corporation. The university provides excellent academic facilities by Bangladeshi standards. After Mohiuddin took office, the corporation established nine postsecondary colleges, computer-training centres, a midwife-training centre, a healthcare-technology training centre (the first in Bangladesh to train in the operation of health care technology – radiology and radiography, for example) and eight night colleges to expand adult literacy. The Chittagong city authority also manages eight Hindu religious-education centres (known as Sanskrit Toll) to provide religious education in Sanskrit to minority students.

Mohiuddin initiated many unique and innovative services, ranging from a transportation and preservation service for the deceased, to the recycling of waste to produce organic fertiliser. One highly acclaimed public investment by the Chittagong City Corporation is the Theatre Institute Chittagong, where theatre enthusiasts can train and perform. The institute can also be rented and is popular amongst drama groups for its technologically well-equipped, purpose-built auditorium.

Mohiuddin pioneered city finances by actively engaging the Chittagong City Corporation in commercial ventures to generate income. By building shopping complex, residential areas and other income-generating projects (such as CNG refuelling stations), the corporation was able to generate income and expand economic opportunities for city residents. He was also credited for not raising holding tax in Chittagong for seventeen years and yet running the public services without any public debt.